Childproof Tube Container

ABSTRACT

The present childproof squeeze cap tube container includes a cylindrical container with a screw-type mating mechanism on an insert within the cap that nests inside the cap sleeve and moves independently from the exterior shell of the cap. The insert can rotate independently from the cap sleeve when the cap sleeve is rotated in either direction. The exterior surface of the insert of the cap assembly has vertical grooves, channels, ribs or similar surface texture, wherein the interior surface of the cap sleeve has matching surface grooves, channels, ribs, or surface texture to the insert component of the cap assembly, allowing the sleeve and insert to grip each other and move together when inward pressure is applied to the outer sleeve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application incorporates by reference and claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/767,156 filed on Nov. 14,2018.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to a container with achild-proof opening mechanism. More specifically, the present subjectmatter provides a cylindrical container design that opens with atwisting mechanism that can be easily operated by an adult, whilepresenting an insurmountable obstacle to a child, or other person wholacks either the knowledge or manual dexterity to operate the mechanism.

Parents of young children typically desire to restrict their childrenfrom accessing dangerous or inappropriate items, both in their homes andout in the world. Additionally, parents often look for containers thatare discreet in both size and function, because such containers tend tobe less attractive to young children, who often reach for items that areunique or that appear toy-like. In the event that the child does gettheir hands on the container, it is important that the child is unableto open the container and gain access to its contents.

Another important concern, especially for parents of older children, isthat many of the currently available containers lack novelty in theopening mechanism. As a result, it can be simple for the child toobserve the adult opening the container and can easily imitate theaction to open the container on his own. In many cases, the child canwitness many of the currently available containers being operatedthrough casual observation of television and movies.

Moreover, containers that require compound or sequential movements toopen are much more difficult for children to operate. Therefore, thebest childproof containers feature lids which require people to performmore than one motion or action to open.

Accordingly, a need exists for a new container with a childproof openingmechanism, particularly one which is both novel and complex in itsoperation, while also being discreet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet the needs described above, the childproof squeeze cap tubecontainer provided herein can include a cylindrical container, whereinthe outside diameter of the cap can match the dimensions of thecontainer itself, with a male screw-type mating mechanism on an insert(i.e., inner portion) that nests inside the cap sleeve and movesindependently from the exterior shell of the cap. The insert rotatesfreely inside the cap sleeve when the cap sleeve is rotated in eitherdirection. The exterior surface of the insert of the cap assembly hasvertical grooves, channels, ribs or similar surface texture. Theinterior surface of the cap sleeve has matching surface grooves,channels, ribs, or surface texture to the insert component of the capassembly, allowing the components to grip each other and move togetherwhen inward pressure is applied to the outer sleeve. The cylindricalcontainer component can have a matching female screw-type matingsurface, that engages a male threaded mating surface on the insert ofthe cap assembly.

In another example, the mating surface texture on the insert and sleevemay be protrusions on the outer top surface of the insert and the innertop surface of the sleeve. In this example, rotation of the screw-typemating surfaces occurs when the user presses down on the cap whileturning it.

In one example, a container includes: a cap assembly including an innerportion and an outer sleeve, wherein the inner portion is positionedwithin the outer sleeve, wherein an outer surface of the inner portionincludes a male threaded surface; wherein the outer sleeve includes afirst set of protrusions extending from an inner surface of a top wallof the outer sleeve; wherein the inner portion includes a second set ofprotrusions positioned along an outer top surface of the inner portion;wherein when the inner portion is positioned inside the outer sleeve,the first set of protrusions align with the second set of protrusions;and a body including a base and a base cylindrical wall extending fromthe base defining an interior cavity, wherein a portion of an innersurface of an end of the cylindrical wall includes a female threadedsurface to engage with the male threaded surface of the cap assembly;wherein upon downward pressure on the top of the outer sleeve of the capassembly, the cap assembly moves from a first position to a secondposition; wherein in the first position, the first set of protrusions donot engage the second set of protrusions and the outer sleeve rotatesindependent of the inner portion of the cap; wherein in the secondposition, the first set of protrusions engage the second set ofprotrusions and the inner insert rotates with the outer sleeve.

In some examples, the first set of protrusions and the second set ofprotrusions are the same shape. In other examples, the first set ofprotrusions and the second set of protrusions are different shapes. Forexample, the first set of protrusions are a generally rectangular shapeand the second set of protrusions are a generally trapezoidal shape.

An advantage of the present container is providing an unlockablecontainer using two different motions at once, further preventingchildren from opening the container.

A further advantage of the present container is providing an unlockingmechanism that cannot be easily perceived or studied by older childrento unlock the container.

Another advantage of the present system is providing a unique lockingand unlocking mechanism that can be used on a variety of containertypes.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned byproduction or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages ofthe concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies,instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one implementation in accord with the presentconcept, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In thefigures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a childproof container inthe closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the childproof container shown in FIG. 1in the open position, with the male and female mating surfaces visible.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the childproof container shown in FIG. 1,showing the exterior of the cap assembly and the container.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the childproofcontainer shown in FIG. 3 showing the container and cap.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cap sleeve of the cap shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the childproofcontainer shown in FIG. 3 showing the container and cap.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the outer surface of the inner portion of thecap shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the inner surface of the outer portion of thecap shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an example of a childproof container 10. In anexample shown in FIGS. 4-5, the container 10 is a squeeze cap tubecontainer 10. In an example shown in FIGS. 6-8, the container 10 is apress and turn cap tube container 10.

The container 10 can include a hollow cylinder body 11 and a capassembly 12. The body 11 can have a threaded female mating surface 13 ona receiving end 20. The cap assembly 12 can have a threaded male matingsurface 14 on the inserting end 22. However, it is contemplated theopposite configuration of the threaded surfaces can be employed (e.g.,the body 11 can have the male mating surface 14 and the cap assembly 12can include the female mating surface 13).

FIG. 3 is a side view of a tube container 10 illustrating the body 11and the cap 12 in a closed position. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of afirst embodiment of the tube container 10, illustrating the threadedfemale mating surface 13 of the body 11, the threaded male matingsurface 14 on the inner portion of the cap 15 of the cap assembly 12,and the sleeve 16 of the cap assembly 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner portion of the cap 15 includes a pluralityof pockets 17 formed by alternating raised elements and depressedelements (e.g., ribs, channels, etc.) along an outer side surface of theinner portion of the cap 15. The outer dimension of the inner portion ofthe cap 15 can be slightly smaller than the inner dimension of thesleeve 16 (i.e., outer portion of the cap 16), which allows the innerportion of the cap 15 to fit into the sleeve 16, and allows the sleeve16 and the inner portion of the cap 15 to move (rotate) independently ofone another until inward pressure is applied to the sleeve 16.

When inward pressure is applied to the sleeve 16, protrusions 30extending from the inner surface of the sleeve 16 engage with thepockets 17 on the outer surface of the inner portion of the cap 15 suchthat the sleeve 16 and the inner portion of the cap 15 rotate togetherthereby moving the threaded male mating surface 14 from the threadedfemale mating surface 13 to open or close the container 10. When inwardpressure is not applied to the sleeve 16 and the sleeve 16 is rotated,the protrusions 30 extending from the inner surface of the sleeve 16 donot engage with the pockets 17 on the outer surface of the inner portionof the cap 15 such that the sleeve 16 and the inner portion of the cap15 rotate independently. Therefore, without pressure on the sleeve 16,the inner portion of the cap 15 does not rotate with the sleeve 16,thereby preventing the threaded male mating surface 14 to untwist fromthe threaded female mating surface 13 to open the container 10.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the interior of the cap sleeve 16,illustrating a plurality of protrusions 30. For example, the protrusions30 can be vertical ribs that engage with the inner portion of the cap 15that include vertical pockets 17 on the exterior surface of the innerportion of the cap 15, wherein the protrusions 30 can fit within theindentations 17 when inward pressure is applied to the sleeve 16.

While described as pockets 17 and protrusions 30 so as to provide moreclarity in which element is which, it will be understood that each ofthe pockets 17 and protrusions 30 are really just alternating raisedelements and depressed elements and either set of pockets 17 andprotrusions 30 could be described using either term.

The protrusions 30 and pockets 17 can be complementary matching shapesor mismatching shapes. The shape of the protrusions 30 and pockets 17can be rectangular, round, among other shapes. For example, theprotrusions 30 can be rectangular ridges, whereas the pockets 17 arerectangular voids to receive the protrusions 30. In an example, theprotrusions 30 and pockets 17 run along a portion of the length of thecap sleeve 16 and inner portion of the cap 15, respectively.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an exploded view of a second embodiment of thetube container 10 is shown, including the threaded female mating surface13 of the body 11, the threaded male mating surface 14 on the innerportion of the cap 15 of the cap assembly 12, and the sleeve 16 of thecap assembly 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, the inner portion of the cap 15 includes a pluralityof pockets 17 formed by alternating raised elements and depressedelements (e.g., ribs, channels, etc.) along an outer top surface of theinner portion of the cap 15. The outer dimension of the inner portion ofthe cap 15 can be slightly smaller than the inner dimension of thesleeve 16 (i.e., outer portion of the cap 16), which allows the innerportion of the cap 15 to fit into the sleeve 16, and allows the sleeve16 and the inner portion of the cap 15 to move (rotate) independently ofone another until inward pressure is applied to the sleeve 16.

When downward pressure is applied to the sleeve 16, protrusions 30extending from the inner surface of the sleeve 16 engage with thepockets 17 on the outer surface of the inner portion of the cap 15 suchthat the sleeve 16 and the inner portion of the cap 15 rotate togetherthereby moving the threaded male mating surface 14 from the threadedfemale mating surface 13 to open or close the container 10. When inwardpressure is not applied to the sleeve 16 and the sleeve 16 is rotated,the protrusions 30 extending from the inner surface of the sleeve 16 donot engage with the pockets 17 on the outer surface of the inner portionof the cap 15 such that the sleeve 16 and the inner portion of the cap15 rotate independently. Therefore, without pressure on the sleeve 16,the inner portion of the cap 15 does not rotate with the sleeve 16,thereby preventing the threaded male mating surface 14 to untwist fromthe threaded female mating surface 13 to open the container 10.

An alternate description of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6-8 could,for example, refer to both the pockets 17 and the protrusions 30 asfirst and second sets of protrusions.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to theembodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishingits attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of thesystems and methods may be provided based on various combinations of thefeatures and functions from the subject matter provided herein.

We claim:
 1. A container comprising: a cap assembly including an innerportion and an outer sleeve, wherein the inner portion is positionedwithin the outer sleeve, wherein an outer surface of the inner portionincludes a male threaded surface; wherein the outer sleeve includes afirst set of protrusions extending from an inner surface of a top wallof the outer sleeve; wherein the inner portion includes a second set ofprotrusions positioned along an outer top surface of the inner portion;wherein when the inner portion is positioned inside the outer sleeve,the first set of protrusions align with the second set of protrusions;and a body including a base and a base cylindrical wall extending fromthe base defining an interior cavity, wherein a portion of an innersurface of an end of the cylindrical wall includes a female threadedsurface to engage with the male threaded surface of the cap assembly;wherein upon downward pressure on the top of the outer sleeve of the capassembly, the cap assembly moves from a first position to a secondposition; wherein in the first position, the first set of protrusions donot engage the second set of protrusions and the outer sleeve rotatesindependent of the inner portion of the cap; wherein in the secondposition, the first set of protrusions engage the second set ofprotrusions and the inner insert rotates with the outer sleeve.
 2. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the first set of protrusions and thesecond set of protrusions are the same shape.
 3. The container of claim1, wherein the first set of protrusions and the second set ofprotrusions are different shapes.
 4. The container of claim 1, whereinthe first set of protrusions are each a rectangular shape and the secondset of protrusions are each a trapezoidal shape.